BRICK, N.J. (AP) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he would have stopped aides from blocking George Washington Bridge traffic if he had known about the plan in advance.

Christie told a town hall audience in the town of Brick on Thursday that “if anybody had come to me” to talk about causing traffic jams, “I would have stopped it.” Emails show his aides knew the lanes were intentionally closed last September to create gridlock in Fort Lee, whose Democratic mayor did not endorse Christie, a Republican.

Christie says there is no merit to allegations that his administration encouraged retribution politics.

The scandal has overshadowed Christie as he contemplates a 2016 presidential run.

The governor has been holding town halls in Republican-friendly communities as he tries to rebound from the scandal.